Queensland · Suburb Profile

Cardwell QLD — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Cardwell, Queensland. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Cardwell QLD is 1,320 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Cardwell is $508 per week ($26,416 per year). Median rent in Cardwell is $250 per week ($1,083 per month). Cardwell has a median age of 60 years, older than the national median of 38. Cardwell has a population density of 41.8 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Cardwell is England. The most common religion is No Religion (36% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is SAL Tot. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cardwell is $1,278.

There were 259 recorded offences in Cardwell in 2025-26, a rate of 196 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (58 offences).

Cardwell Map

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Cardwell Population

residents (Census 2021)

Cardwell Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$508/wk

$26,416 per year

#8123 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$250/wk

$1,083 per month

#6115 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

60years

22 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,278/mo

Avg household size: 1.9 · 0.8 per bedroom

Cardwell Demographics

Gender Split

Male 52.7% (697) Female 47.3% (626)

Population Density

41.8

people per km²

1,320 people · 31.6 km²

Households

1.9

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$1,172

Family income/wk

Cardwell Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Cardwell Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

75.7% 252 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

24.3% 81 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Cardwell Country of Birth

Australia

93.5%

England

5.2%

India

0.7%

Germany

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Cardwell Religion

No Religion

36.4%

Catholic

20.0%

Anglican

18.7%

Not stated

11.9%

Uniting Church

5.4%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

3.6%

Christian (other)

2.3%

Pentecostal

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Cardwell Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent

40.7%

Year 12 or equivalent

39.6%

Year 9 or equivalent

10.1%

Year 11 or equivalent

9.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Cardwell Languages Spoken at Home

SAL Tot

33.3%

Other

26.2%

IAL Punjabi

11.9%

IAL Nepali

9.5%

SAL Filipin

9.5%

SAL Tagalog

9.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Cardwell Employment

💼

Employed full-time

20.1% 204 people

⏰

Employed part-time

15.9% 161 people

🔍

Unemployed

3.1% 31 people

🏠

Not in labour force

60.9% 618 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Cardwell Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

51.8%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

22.7%

Bachelor Degree

17.8%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

2.9%

Certificate I/II

2.9%

Postgraduate Degree

2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Cardwell Occupation

Community & Personal Service

21.1%

Technicians & Trade Workers

18.6%

Professionals

16.1%

Sales Workers

11.6%

Managers

10.3%

Labourers

9.9%

Clerical & Administrative

9.1%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Cardwell Field of Study

Management & Commerce

17.2%

Engineering

16.3%

Society & Culture

15.9%

Health

12.4%

Education

10.7%

Agriculture & Environment

9.0%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

8.6%

Architecture & Building

6.9%

Natural & Physical Sciences

1.7%

Creative Arts

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Cardwell Dwelling Types

Separate house

83.2%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

11.0%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Cardwell Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

3.0%

$1-$149/wk

1.5%

$150-$299/wk

1.7%

$300-$399/wk

4.0%

$400-$499/wk

12.1%

$500-$649/wk

10.2%

$650-$799/wk

13.9%

$800-$999/wk

11.2%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.2%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.6%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

5.5%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.7%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

7.8%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

2.5%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.9%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

1.3%

$4,000+/wk

2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Cardwell Marital Status

💍

Married

42.8% 509

↔️

Separated

5.0% 59

📋

Divorced

14.9% 177

🕊️

Widowed

9.9% 118

👤

Never married

27.4% 325

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Cardwell Ancestry

English

31.9%

Australian

26.5%

Scottish

9.2%

Irish

8.4%

Aboriginal Australianralian

6.5%

Other

6.0%

German

4.5%

Filipino

2.4%

Italian

2.0%

Dutch

1.0%

Indian

1.0%

Chinese

0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Cardwell School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

47.7%

Secondary — Government

23.9%

Pre-school

11.9%

Secondary — Catholic

9.2%

Vocational Education

4.6%

Primary — Catholic

2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Cardwell Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

14.3% 339

✅

No need for assistance

85.7% 2,037

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Cardwell Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

16.8% 180

—

Not a volunteer

83.2% 891

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Cardwell Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

7.9%

$300-$449/mo

6.3%

$600-$799/mo

12.7%

$800-$999/mo

9.5%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

25.4%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

12.7%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

25.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Cardwell How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

62.8%

Did not go to work

13.5%

Walked only

10.7%

Car (passenger)

5.5%

Bicycle

2.5%

Other

2.2%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.9%

Truck

0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Cardwell Car Ownership

0 vehicles

6.3%

1 vehicle

47.1%

2 vehicles

36.7%

3 vehicles

7.7%

4+ vehicles

2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Cardwell Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

11.9%

2 bedrooms

27.8%

3 bedrooms

45.9%

4 bedrooms

12.6%

5 bedrooms

1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Cardwell Population Mobility

18.9%

moved in the last year

44.7%

moved in the last 5 years

8.1%

unemployment rate (Census)

37.6%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Cardwell Indigenous Population

11.0%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

266

Indigenous residents

2,155

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Cardwell Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

152

Arthritis

111

Lung condition

Heart disease

Diabetes

Cancer

Asthma

Kidney disease

Stroke

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Cardwell Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

8.5%

$1-$149/wk

3.8%

$150-$299/wk

7.6%

$300-$399/wk

9.7%

$400-$499/wk

13.7%

$500-$649/wk

8.6%

$650-$799/wk

11.0%

$800-$999/wk

11.3%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

9.6%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

4.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

3.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

2.9%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

2.9%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.1%

$3,500+/wk

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Cardwell Family Structure

Couple — no children

50.5%

Couple — children under 15

19.7%

One parent — children under 15

12.2%

Couple — no children under 15

10.3%

One parent — no children under 15

7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Cardwell Military Service

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.5% 5

🏅

Previously served

5.3% 57

👤

Never served

94.2% 1,005

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Cardwell Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

14.4% 151

—

Did not provide

85.6% 899

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Cardwell Children Ever Born

No children

21.3%

1 child

12.5%

2 children

37.8%

3 children

20.7%

4 children

6.4%

5+ children

1.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Cardwell When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2019

2020

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Cardwell Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

15.1%

5–14 hours

24.7%

15–29 hours

13.8%

30+ hours

13.3%

Did not do domestic work

33.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Cardwell Household Size

1 person

39.7%

2 persons

43.3%

3 persons

9.8%

4 persons

3.7%

5 persons

2.5%

6+ persons

0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Cardwell Where Residents Moved From

Same address

953

Moved from QLD

106

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from VIC

Moved from NSW

Moved from overseas

Moved from NT

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Cardwell Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

71.6%

Step family — no other children

19.4%

Blended family — no other children

9.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Cardwell Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 259 total

Theft

Drug Offences

Domestic Violence

Traffic

Break & Enter

Property Damage

Assault

Fraud

Sexual Offences

Weapons

Robbery

Offence trend by year:

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: QLD Police Service — data.qld.gov.au

Cardwell Schools

schools nearby

government

932

avg ICSEA score

total students

Cardwell State School Government

Primary · Prep-6 · 76 students

932

ICSEA

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Cardwell with map →

Cardwell Rent Prices & Affordability

30%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $846/wk

Median Rent $250/wk

Rent-to-Income 29.6%

Rent is between 25–35% of household income — moderate housing costs.

If you earn X in Cardwell

Your weekly income

≈ $3,666/month

Median rent $250/wk

Left after rent $596/wk

Rent share 29.6%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Sapphire Central

Income: $437/wk Rent: $160/wk Save: $90/wk

Forrest Beach (Qld)

Income: $543/wk Rent: $240/wk Save: $10/wk

Howard

Income: $456/wk Rent: $248/wk Save: $2/wk

Monto

Income: $491/wk Rent: $170/wk Save: $80/wk

Yarraman (Qld)

Income: $445/wk Rent: $223/wk Save: $27/wk

Jandowae

Income: $495/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $50/wk

Wondai

Income: $527/wk Rent: $225/wk Save: $25/wk

Mount Morgan

Income: $462/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $50/wk

Cardwell vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in QLD

Riverbend

Pop: 661 Income: $914/wk Rent: $445/wk

Wondecla

Pop: 661 Income: $605/wk Rent: $250/wk

Sarina Beach

Pop: 661 Income: $767/wk Rent: $300/wk

The Leap

Pop: 664 Income: $969/wk Rent: $250/wk

Donnybrook (Qld)

Pop: 664 Income: $613/wk Rent: $303/wk

Cosgrove (Qld)

Pop: 665 Income: $993/wk Rent: $370/wk

Compare Cardwell

Cardwell vs Riverbend →Cardwell vs Wondecla →Cardwell vs Sarina Beach →Cardwell vs The Leap →

Frequently Asked Questions About Cardwell

What is the population of Cardwell QLD?

The population of Cardwell QLD is 1,320 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 41.8 people per km².Cardwell is ranked #3,576 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Cardwell?

The median personal income in Cardwell QLD is $508 per week, or $26,416 per year.The median household income is $846 per week.Family income is $1,172 per week.Cardwell is ranked #8,123 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Cardwell?

Median rent in Cardwell QLD is $250 per week ($1,083 per month).Rent represents 29.6% of household income, which is considered moderate.Cardwell ranks #6,115 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Cardwell?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cardwell QLD is $1,278. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Cardwell?

The median age in Cardwell QLD is 60 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Cardwell a good suburb to live in?

Cardwell is a suburb in Queensland with a population of 1,320.The median income is $508/wk, which is below the QLD average of $759/wk.Rent affordability is rated as moderate (29.6% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 30537. All dollar figures in AUD.